念佛即是特别法门
[11] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha [Is The] Special Dharma Door
仗自力了生死法门，虽高深玄妙，欲依此了生死，又不知要经若干劫数。
[The] Dharma doors relying [on] Self-power [for] liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, although highly profound, subtle [and] wonderful, [if] desiring [to] rely [on] these [for] liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, also not known [is that this] needs [the] passing [of] how many numerous kalpas.
以约大乘圆教论，五品位尚未能断见惑。
With restriction [to the] Great Vehicle’s Complete Teachings discussing, [the] Five Grades’ positions [are] still yet [to be] able [to] sever [wrong] views [and] confusions.
[Note 1: The Great Vehicle’s Complete Teachings (大乘圆教) are for attainment of Buddhahood. The Five Grades (五品) are the (i) Grade Of Rejoice (随喜品), (ii) Grade Of Study And Recitation (读诵品), (iii) Grade Of Speaking The Dharma (说法品), (iv) Grade Of Simultaneous Practice Of Six Perfections (兼行六度品) and (v) Grade Of Main Practice Of Six Perfections (正行六度品), as taught in the (Wonderful) Dharma (Lotus) Flowers Sūtra’s《法华经》Chapter On Different Meritorious Virtues (分别功德品).]
初信位方断见惑，便可永无造恶业堕恶道之虑，然须渐次进修。已证七信，方了生死。初信神通道力已不可思议，尚须至七信位方了生死。了生死事，岂易言乎？
[The] First Faith’s position then severs [wrong] views [and] confusions. Then can [there] forever [be] without worry of creating evil karmas [for] falling [into] evil paths. However, [there] must [be] gradual advancement. Already [having] realised [the] Seventh Faith, then liberating [from the cycle of] birth [and] death. [The] First Faith’s supernormal path’s power [are] already inconceivable, [yet] still needing [to] reach [the] Seventh Faith’s position, then liberating [from the cycle of] birth [and] death. [Of the] matter [of] liberation [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, how can it be [so] easily spoken [of]?
[Note 2: There are the 52 positions (五十二位) of Bodhisattvahood (菩萨果) that lead to Buddhahood (佛果) – (i) Ten Faiths (十信), (ii) Ten Abodes (十住), (iii) Ten Practices (十行), (iv) Ten Dedications (十回向), (v) Ten Grounds (十地), (vi) Equal Awakening (等觉) and (vii) Wonderful Awakening (妙觉), which is Buddhahood.]
即约小乘藏教论，断见惑即证初果，任运不会行犯戒事。若不出家，亦娶妻生子，若以威逼令犯邪淫，宁肯舍命，决不犯戒。
Then restricting [to the] Small Vehicle’s Tripiṭaka Teachings discussing, severing [wrong] views [and] confusions, then realising [the] First Fruit, [with] natural accomplishment [of] not doing matters [that] violate [the] precepts. If not leaving [the] household [life, perhaps] also marrying [to have] wives, giving birth [to] children. If, because of [being] coerced, made [to] violate [with] sexual misconduct, rather giving up life, definitely not violating precepts.
[Note 3: The Small Vehicle’s Tripiṭaka Teachings (小乘藏教) are for attainment of Arhathood (阿罗汉果) (or self-liberation), which is the (iv) Fourth Fruit (四果), after the (i) First Fruit (初果), (ii) Second Fruit (二果) and (iii) Third Fruit (三果). Those of the First Fruit can also be laypeople, who observe the lay precepts strictly.]
初果有进无退，未证初果，则不定。今生修持好极，来生会造大恶业。亦有前半生好，后半生便坏者。
[Those with the] First Fruit [will] have progress without retrogression, [while those] yet [to] realise [the] First Fruit [are] then not definite. [In] this life [with] practice extremely good, [in the] next life, [there] will [be] creating [of] great evil karmas. Also having those [with the] first half [of that] life good, [and the] latter half [of that] life then evil.
[Note 4: Those with the First Fruit will progress without retrogression to the Fourth Fruit, not necessarily continuing to Buddhahood. Those with very good practice in this life are likely to create very evil karmas in the next life due to having great complacency, from the ripening of good karmas from this life. The first half of that life is likely to be good due to continuation of this life’s habits, while the latter half goes astray due to distractions from the ripening of good karmas from this life. In the life after the next, there is then fall into evil paths due to exhaustion of good karmas and accumulation of evil karmas. This existential problem that arises and repeats every three lives from not reaching Pure Land (净土) is called Three Lifetimes’ Grievance (三世怨).]
初果尚须七生天上，七返人间，方证四果。天寿甚长，不可以年月论。此仗自力了生死之难也。
[Those with the] First Fruit need seven lives [in the] heavens above, [or] seven returns [to the] human world, [to] then realise [the] Fourth Fruit. [However], heavenly lifespans [are] extremely long, [that] cannot with years [and] months discussed. This relies on Self-power, [to be] liberated [from] difficulties of [the cycle of] birth [and] death.
念佛法门，乃佛法中之特别法门，仗佛慈力，可以带业往生。（约在此界，尚未断惑业，名带业。若生西方，则无业可得，非将业带到西方去。）
[The] Dharma Door [Of] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha, [is] thus that Special Dharma Door within [the] Buddha’s Dharma [teachings]. Relying [on the] Buddha’s loving-kindness’ power, [there] can [be] bringing [of] karmas [to be] reborn [there]. (Restricting [to those] in this realm, still yet [to] sever confusions [and evil] karmas, [this is] named [as] bringing [of] karmas. If born [in the] Western [Pure Land], then without karmas [that] can [be] attained, not with karmas brought to [the] Western [Pure Land].)
[Note 5: In contrast to all other Dharma Doors, being with Buddha’s immeasurable Other-power (他力), the Dharma Door Of Mindfulness Of Buddha (念佛法门) is the only Special Dharma Door (特别法门) with the above great advantages. Once reaching the Pure Land, as there are no supportive conditions (助缘) for the fruition of evil karmic causes (恶业因) there, while there are only supportive conditions for creating pure karmas (净业) (without attachment to them), past evil karmas is as good as gone.]
无论工夫深浅，若具真信切愿，至诚称念，无一不往生者。
Regardless [of] skills [being] deep [or] shallow, if complete [with] true Faith [and] sincere Aspiration, [having] utmost sincere recitation, [this is] without one [of] those [not] reborn [there].
[Note 6: Faith, Aspiration and Practice (信愿行) of utmost sincere recitation (至诚称念) form the Three Provisions (三资粮) for reaching the Pure Land.]
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
《印光法师文钞》（三编）：复吴思谦书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Third Compilation): Reply Letter [To] Wú Sīqiān;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第十一则）：一、赞净土超胜（第十一则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (11th Short Section): 1st [Chapter]: Praise [Of The] Pure Land [Dharma Door Being] Transcendental [And] Supreme (11th Short Section)
[Ref: #11 / 1.11]
Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关典籍
Related Text:
《印光大师文钞菁华录》
Record Of Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence
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